Glider structure



April 23, 1940. WLSMITH 2,198,518

GLIDER STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 4, 1939 INVENTOR Will/am 1 Smifh ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES waste PATENT OFFICE Hettrick Manufacturing Company,

Toledo,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 4, 1939 Serial No. 307,355

4 Claims.

This invention relates to articles of furniture but more particularly to a glider or couch equipped with a spring supporting structure on which rest the seat cushions and an object is'to eliminate the usual flaps ordinarily attached to the seat cushions and which hang down over the front portion of the couch or glider for concealing the springs, and to produce a structure hav-- ing a panel of metal or other suitable sheet material which extends across the front with the upper edge of the panel disposed sufficiently below the seat cushions so as to enable movement of a person with the cushioning movement of the spring structure without contact with or annoyance by the panel, which serves not only as an ornamental feature but also as a partial cover for the spring structure, the remainder of the exposed spring structure being suitably covered, as by a flexible envelope. I

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a glider,

portions being broken away to show the supporting coil spring structure and associated parts;

Figure 2. is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of a front corner portion of the glider seat structure;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the front portion of the seat structure;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view in perspective of an alternate form of front apron panel. I

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a glider having a supporting frame provided with a pair of upright end panelsv ID to which are connected a pair of spaced substantially U-shaped tubes H so arranged as to support the end panels II) in the desired position. As will be readily understood by those skilled in this art, the glider seat structure generally indicated at I3 is suspended from the upright end panels In by pairs of pivotally mounted hangers l2, two being disposed at each side of the glider. The hangers [2 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to legs l4 depending from the seat frame IS. The detail construction of the seat frame I5 is not considered necessary. Suffice it to say that it includes a horizontally extending bar 16 of angle iron to the opposite ends of which are secured rearwardly extending angle iron bars l1. Secured to the frame [5 is a coil spring structure, which is made up of a series of crisscrossing wirerods I8 suitably carrying vertical coil springs l9 generally helical in shape but which taper from top to bottom, the smaller portion being disposed at the lower end. It will be 5 understood that a similar crisscrossing system of wire rods is disposed at the upper ends of the springs and a border wire extends entirely around the spring structure.

A suitable back frame (not shown) connects to 10 the rear end of the seat frame I5 and resting thereagainst are cushions 2|. Likewise resting upon the supporting spring structure are cushions 22, which may be of any suitable type. Ordinarily the seat cushions 22 are provided with flaps 15.

at the front end and these flaps hang down to cover the front portion of the glider, obscuring the spring structure and the supporting frame. These flaps have been found to be unsatisfactory inasmuch as they become wrinkled and unsightg 1y after a period of time and also because they militate against shifting of'the seat cushions to different positions, rendering it impossible completely to reverse the cushions so that the front edge portions are at the rear of the glider. In accordance with this invention, the .use of flaps is eliminated and, as shown, a panel 23 of light gauge sheet metal or other suitable-material extends entirely across the front of the glider, ap-

proximately one-half of the width of the panel extending above the front cross bar l6 and the other half below the bar I6. As shown, the panel inclines upwardly and rearwardly above the cross bar l6 and downwardly and rearwardly below the cross bar Hi. In this instance the panel 23 is longitudinally fluted for ornamental purposes. It will also be noted that the upper edge portion 24 is beaded or rolled over a rod 25 the. ends of which project beyond the ends of the panel and such projecting end portions are screw-threaded. The panel 23 covers approximately one-half of the space between the top and bottom of the coil spring structure, leaving a space between the upper edge of the panel and the seat cushions 22; This arrangement is of importance because it enables a person to sit upon the seat cushions and compress the coil spring structure without troublesome interference by the upper edge of the panel. It is apparent that in the event that the metal panel 23 extended to the top of the coil spring structure that the top edge would present an unyielding surface which would be most uncomfortable to a person sitting on the glider in the usual manner.

As shown, a flap or wing 26 at opposite ends of u the panel is integral with the lower portion thereof and extends at substantially right angles thereto. The flaps 26 overlap the adjacent side bars ll respectively. Extending outwardly from each side bar I l is a headed pin 2'1, which extends through an opening in the flap 26. The screw threaded projecting ends of the rod 25 extend through openings in side panelsflZS which are formed with arm rest 29 at the upper ends. A nut 30 is connected to each end of the rod 25 and clamps the panel 23 and adjacent panel 28 together. A screw 3! connects each flap 26 to the adjacent bar fl and screws 32 connect, the.

panel 23 to the cross bar It. Each of the arm rest carrying panels 28 areprovided with vertical braces 33 which are suitably secured in place and. have notches 34 at their lower ends to slip over" the headed pin 2?. A headed pins-t on theinner side of each brace 33 is adapted to engage in an inclined slot 35 which is formed on a bracket 35 suitably secured, as by welding, to the front end portion of each of the bars ll.

In order to cover the exposed portion of the coil springstructure between the upper end of the panel 23 and the seat cushions 22, a flexible cloth-like fabric covering or envelope 3! having a vertical portion 38 and a horizontal portion 39 is provided. The covering 31 only covers the front end portion of the coil spring structure and'a portion of the opposite ends. The envelope 31 is sufficient to cover the remaining exposed portion of the coil spring structure'and affords the additional purpose of protecting persons sitting on the seat cushions from contact with the coil springs and associated structure. I

In order to holdthe flexible covering 31' suffi ciently taut and for retaining in place so that it will not creep over the upper edge portion of the panel 23, a flexible strap is secured, as by sewing, to the underside of. the verticalportion 38 of the cover. Attached to the lower end of the strap Q0 is a hook member M which engages the lower edge portion of the angle iron cross bar I6. Preferably a number of these hoolc members are employed at spaced intervals in order to properly retain the cover in the desired position.

In the alternate form shown on Figure 5, the

panel 231; has an integral end flap 52 which overlapsthe arm rest carrying panel 28a.

The end portion d2 extends at substantially right angles to the panel 23a and is substantially co-extensive therewith, the lower portion 43 inclining upwardly and rearwardly as shown. 'A single screw 44 may secure the end portion to the panel 28a.

From the above description, it will be apparent that this structure not only enables the seat cushions 22 to be used in any desired manner so that they can be reversed or interchanged as desired, but also provides a more comfortable structure. The panel 23 is shaped for the greatest comfort and is so positioned as to be free from being a nuisance to the occupant of the glider when in a normal sitting posture, the

intermediate spring covering being of real im portance in protecting the occupant from the coil spring structure, as well as enhancing the appearance of the assembly.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims. I

What I claim is':' g I 1. An article of furniture comprising a seat frame, a spring supporting structure on said seat frame, seat cushions loosely resting on said spring supporting structure, a panel of sheet material extending across the front of said frame with its upper edge disposed intermediate the top and bottom of said spring supporting structure, the lower portion of said panel inclining downwardly and rearwardly, and a covering for the portion of said spring supporting structure exposed between the upper edge of said panel and said cushions, whereby the front portion of said spring supporting structure may be substantially compressed by a person sitting on same without engagement with the top edge of said panel.

2. An article of furniture comprising a seat frame, a spring supporting structure on said seat frame, seat cushions on said spring supporting structure, a panel of sheet material extending across the front of said frame with its upper edge disposed intermediate the top and, bottom of said spring supporting structure, rear-- wardly extending wings on opposite ends. of said panel overlapping and concealing the front ends of said seat frame, and a covering for the portion of said spring supporting structure exposed between the upper edge of said panel and said cushions, whereby the front portion of said spring restingv upon said spring supporting structures sheet metal panel extending across the front of said frame with its upper edge terminating ap-, proximately midway between the top and bot-- tom of said spring supporting structure, the upper portion of said panel inclining upwardly and rearwardly and the lower portion ofsaid panel inclining downwardly and rearwardly, rearwardly extending wings on opposite ends of said panel overlapping the adjacent endsof said seat frame, a flexible cloth-like envelope covering the portion of the spring supporting structure exposed between the panel and cushions, and hooks,

flexibly connected to the lower portion of said;

WILLIAM LsMrrn. 

